Collapsible table.



U. K. PAMPERN.

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE.

APPLxcATmN FILED AuGAa. ma.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

ATTORN EY iran srraarns rattan@ enterenb UDO K; PAMPERIN, OIE COSHOCTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE H. D. BEACH COMPANY, OF

COSHOCTON,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE.

Application filed August 19, 1918.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, UDO K. PAMPERIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coshocton, in the county of Coshocton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Collapsible Table, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible tables.

The object is to provide a table of this class which, while strong and durable and capable of supporting great weight, is of such light construction as to be portable and is capable of being readily folded into compact form for storage or transportation and may be easily and quickly set up for use.

Another object is to provide a table wherein the top may be, at all times, connected to the foldable legs in such manner as to permit the collapsing of the entire device and at the same time prevent the separation of the said top from the legs.

A further object is lto provide a top for such a table having means arranged around its margin for strengthening and st-iffening the same, said means having openings for facilitating the cleansing of the table top and acting, at the same time, as means for preventing articles placed thereon from rolling off.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several figures Figure l is a perspective view of a table constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown set up in position for use.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same and illustrating, in dotted lines, the positions of the parts when the table is folded.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a modified form Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec., Sil, ilbll.

Serial No. 250,577.

of leg connection for preventing extreme separation of the legs.

The table of the present invention is designed to be made entirely of sheet metal of suitable gage or thickness to withstand the strains to which the same may be subj ected and having sufficient stiffness to avoid buckling or bending while supporting a load.

Sheet metal such as commonly found on the market has been found advantageous for use in manufacture of the table, and the object has been to design all of the parts in the simplest possible manner in order to avoid expensive machine operations in the course of manufacture.

Vith this object in view, the collapsible table comprises two pairs of legs hingedly connected together at intermediate points of their lengths, in a manner to permit of their opening and closing in a well-known manner. Each pair of legs consists of spaced, parallel strips 1 of sheet metal, joined together and rigidly held in such spaced relation, by upper and lower connecting bars 2 having angularly bent terminal portions 3 adapted to be riveted, as shown at 4, to the opposed faces of the legs 1 and adjacent to the upper and lower ends respectively thereof.

One pair of legs l are spaced a sufficient distance apart to receive the other pair of legs therebetween, and at their point of crossing, which is substantially at the centers of the legs, they are pivoted together b v ordinary rivets 5, to permit offtheir relative opening and closing movement, in a well-known manner.

Each pair of legs l is provided with a single inclined brace 6., formed like the legs 1 and the connecting bars 2, of sheet metal, and having angularly bent terminal portions 7 for attachment to the legs by riveting or otherwise at points adjacent to the terminal portions 3 of the connecting bars 2. The inclined braces 6 are oppositely disposed and have their intermediate portions bent so that they lie with their fiat faces toward each other in a line with the axis of the pivots 5, and in this manner tend to thoroughly brace the leg structure and permit of their fully closing, as will be clearly understood by reference to the dot-ted line `position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Near the upper ends of two adjacent legs zontally disposed 1, perfor-ations 8 are provided, into which are secured the terminal links of a chain 9 which is of a sufficient length to permit the opening of the legs to a position to properly fit the table top 10 in a manner to be described, and at the same time said chain will readily permit of the folding of the legs to a closed position.

The upper terminals o-f one pair of legs 1 are given a quarter twist, as indicated at 11, and are provided with alined hingeeyes 12 extending in a direction parallel with the axis of the pivots 5, while the upper terminals of the other pair of legs 1 are similarly twisted, as at 13, and are provided with outwardly extending, flat, horiext'remities 14 adapted to engage and support the adjacent side of the table top 10 in a manner to be described.

The table top 10, which is preferably rectangular in form, is composed of sheet metal and is provided around its marginal edges with hollow beads 15 which extend -to points adjacent t`o the corners 16 of the top which are preferably rounded off to avoid any sharp angles of metal. The hollow bead 15 along one side edge of the table top 10 is cut away, as at 17, Ito form openings for the reception of the hinge-eyes 12 on the upper ends of the adjacent'pair of legs 1,/'and a hinge-pintle 18 is adapted to traverse 'the bead 15 and the interposed eyes 12 and permit the swinging of the table top with relation to said legs.

The remaining beads 15 may be provided wit, an entrance opening 19 upon the under side of the table top, formed by spacing the terminal edge of the metal away from the body of the top, and this entrance opening may extend from end to end of the said beads. The bead 15 opposite to the one having the hinge connection with the legs 1 is adapted to receivethe ou-twardly-extending extremities 14 of the opposite pair of legs 1 and, while the latter will sfecnrely support the table top 10, the saidbead 15 prevents the pairs of legs from any further separating movement, as any outward tendency of the portions 14 only serves to further seat the same within the bead through the entrance opening 19.

' The several beads 15 extend equally above 10, that portion extending below being for the purpose explained, while, the upward extension is. venting any article placed upon the table from rolling ofi", and it will be seen that the vbeads 15 al1 act to strengthen and stiffen the margins of the table top, in addition to performing the functions stated, and the corner openings 16 facilitatethe cleansing and removing of dirt or accumulations from the top of the table.

In the event that it is not desired to hinge for the purpose of pre? extending extremities 14 formed on each the same may be introduced into leg, so that the opposite beads 15 through the entrance openings 19v and, by reason ofrtheir outward tendency, will remain seated in such position.

When the table isformed in the last described manner, the top is made exactly square and it will be seen that the same may be applied to the tops of the legs withoutv the necessity for any special care, as the parts will t no matter which of the beads may be presented to the portions 14 of the legs, whereas, in the' first described form of the invention the top may be formed oblong, square, oval or other desired shapes.

j While the tendency of the legs, in either form of the invention, is to remain in their properly seated positions, with relation to the top, whether the table is supporting any weight or not, it may be desirable, in some instances, to ilse the pivoted member 2O shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, which consists of a suitable length of sheet metal, pivotally connected, as at 21, to the upper portion of one of the legs and having a slot 22 provided in its lower edge, which isv adapted to receive, when the memberA 20 is pressed down, the headed pin 23 secured to the other leg at a point opposite the pivot 21.

The member 20 when thus engaged with the pin 23 will prevent the legs from m oVe-` ment in either direction, and is specially designed for use in conjunction with the' removable tabletop .form of construction, while the 9,'which prevents only the separation of the upper portions of the pairs of legs 1 is designed for use with the hinged table top form of construction. i

From the foregoing it will be seen that in either form of the invention, a table has been provided which is extremely simple in construction, which may be folded intoa compact form for storing or shipping in great quantities, that the same may be easily and quickly set up for use and, by reason of its extreme simplicity, cannot get out of 1 capable or" manufacture at a ver;7 low cost and yet ma y be enameled, nickeled or otherwise embellished to present a very attractive lllhile capable of use in a variet)7 of places, the table is especially adapted for use by the Army or Navy, in hospitalsfbarracks, camps or on board ship and maj,T be made in Various sizes and shapes to snit the use to which it may be put.

lThat is claimed is gd l. collapsible table comprising a metallic table top. whose edges are provided with hollow beads which extend above the horizontal plane rot the top forming a rim therefor and terminate short o' the corners of the top, said beads also extending below the plane ot said top, one or moreelC said beads having the. edge ot' the metal spaced awajyv from the underside ,of the top to provide an entrance opening, and a oldable leg structure composed of pivoted pairs of legs, one or more ot' said lees being provided at their upper ends with outstanding iiat extremities adapted to ent-er the opening orP the bead.

2. A collapsible table comprising a table top, some of whose edges are provided with open beads, and provided along' one of its edges with hinge-eyes, and a fold-able leg structure comprising pivoted pairs orn legs, one ot' said pairs having hinge-eyes formed at their upper terminals and adapted to c0- act. with the irst named hinge-eyes, the ther pair ot' legs being provided, at their upper ends, with out-standing extremities adaptec to enter the open bead at the side of thev table top opposite to the hinge-eyes, to support the said top in table position.

8. fr collapsible table including a rectangular table top having its side eege provided witli strengthening and st-itlening beads, some of which are open on the under side et said top and toward the center thereot', said heads stopping short ot the eorners ot the top and providing openings to facilitate cleansing ot' 'the same, and a toldable leg' structure comlrising' legs joined into pairs, each pair being pivoted 'to the other pair. means ror limiting` the relative movement o'' the pairs oi legs about their pivotsn one of said pairs connecting to Jthe bead along one edge of the top, the other pair haring mit--stainlingextremities adapted to enter the open bead along the opposite edge ot the top.

ln testimony, that l claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto atliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

UDO lx1. Friililllltlrl.

lllitnesses MARCUS Dawson, H. SPECKMAN. 

